Search continues for missing Ruch woman

A flyer featuring a missing Ruch woman remains pinned to a bulletin board as the search for Stephanie Anne Warner continues.

By Sanne Specht

A flyer featuring a missing Ruch woman remains pinned to a bulletin board as the search for Stephanie Anne Warner continues.

Warner, 43, was last seen on the Fourth of July, authorities say. News videos show her marching in Ashland's Independence Day parade on behalf of the Jackson County Fuel Committee. The brown-eyed, red-haired 5-feet-2, 135-pound woman was wearing black pants and a pink tank top at the event.

Police believe she made it back to Ruch because her vehicle remains in the driveway of her home on Highway 238. But she has not been seen or heard from since, said Sgt. Shawn Richards of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

Warner's family called police after she failed to make contact with them, telling officers it was out of character for Warner to drop out of sight, Richards said, adding there was no indication of forced entry or other foul play at Warner's home.

More than two weeks after her disappearance, Warner's whereabouts continues to confound the department, said Andrea Carlson, spokesperson.

Carlson told media outlets that the missing woman's family, friends and neighbors continue to cooperate in the search for Warner. But it remains unknown if she left on her own, if something happened to her, "or if it's something bigger," Carlson stated in one television interview.

Earlier in the month search-and-rescue personnel conducted sweeps in the area of her home but found nothing, Richards said.

On July 10, seven searchers using dogs looked for signs of Warner on her property and surrounding areas. Using an item that carried Warner's scent, searchers used their specially trained scent hounds as well as cadaver dogs trained to detect the scent of human remains, he said.

On July 11 a second set of 16 searchers performed a grid search, walking closely together along various areas in the Applegate Valley. A third search was performed along the Applegate River using a helicopter, he said.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Jackson County Tip Line at 541-774-8333 or email CID@jacksoncounty.org.